234 



Celery Culture in America. 



Of the 91 samples of condensed milk taken, only two, both of 

 which came from Belgium, were reported against. An un- 

 favourable report was also made on one sample of fresh milk 

 imported from Italy. The remaining twelve analyses of 

 imported fresh milk gave satisfactory results. 



Celery Culture in the United States. 



In No. 148 of their " Farmers' Bulletins," the United States 

 Department of Agriculture have issued detailed information 

 as to the practice followed in the cultivation of celery in that 

 country. Celery growing, on a commercial scale, made its 

 greatest progress in the United States after the opening and 

 draining of the " muck-bed " areas of the Great Lake Region, 

 where there are several thousand acres under cultivation. It 

 is also grown in California and Florida, where, owing to the 

 warmer climate, it matures at a different period ; so that celery 

 is upon the market practically from August, or earlier, until 

 April. 



In the production of celery for domestic use, a rich, mellow,, 

 sandy loam gives the best results. Nitrogen forms the principal 

 plant food of celery, so that the soil will soon become deficient 

 in this element unless means be provided for its restoration- 

 This may be done either by the application of large quantities of 

 manures containing a high percentage of nitrates, or by planting 

 leguminous crops during one or more years between the celery 

 crops. Potash and phosphates are also required by the crop>- 

 but the amount depends upon the condition of the land. The 

 manure should be applied either late in the autumn or very 

 early in the spring, so that it may be thoroughly incorporated 

 with the soil before the celery is planted. 



The preparation of the ground consists in ploughing, prefer- 

 ably in the autumn, so that it may be exposed to the action of 

 frost during the winter, after which the soil should be pulverised 

 to a depth of 4 or 5 inches with harrow and roller immediately 

 before planting the celery. 



For an early or small crop the seed is usually sown in January 



